Multiple cutter shaver having continuous shaving surface



Dec. 1, 1964 l. H. BREWER 3,153,932

MULTIPLE CUTTER SHAVER HAVING CONTINUOUS SHAVING SURFACE Filed Aug. 1, 1962 LEL | l a Ml IHI E so 5a s2 8l68 72 66 as 78 I m in INVENTOR. IVO H. BREWER 96 96 OLSEN m STEPHENSON v ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,155,932 MiJ'LTlPLE Q UT HAVE-1G CUNTINTUQUS SHAVENG SURFAQE Ive H. Brewer, Maple Ridge Ave, Ann Arbor, Mich. Filed Aug. 1, 1962, Ser. 1 o. 214,899 2 Claims. (Cl. 3G43.6)

The present invention relates to improvements in electric shave-rs and more particularly to improvements in the cutting head and the arrangement for driving the cutting elements thereof.

It is conventional practice in the electric shaver art to provide shavers with either reciprocating cutting blades or continuously rotating cutting blades. Each type of shaver has advantages and disadvantages when considered with the other. One of the problems that exists in connection with the rotary type shaver is the limited effective cutting area that is available on the shaver head. This occurs because shavers or" this type have heretofore had the cutter blades revolving about a single axis. T 0 overcome this difficulty, efforts have been made to provide multiple rotary cutters, out such arrangements do not provide a uniform uninterrupted shaving surface across the width of the electric shaver.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved electric shaver of the rotary type which is constructed and arranged to provide a uniform, uninterrupted shaving surface extending acoss the width of the shaver head.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved electric shaver of the rotary type which has a non-circular shaving surface and an associated cutter assembly adapted to travel in a rotary, but noncircular path, so that a shaving surface of desired configuration is realized.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved electric shaver of the foregoing character which is constructed and arranged so that the cutting elements are constantly urged against the comb of the shaver thereby assuring that uniform cutting characteristics are provided and that constant compensation for Wear between the comb and the cutting blades is assured.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved shaver of the foregoing character wmch has a maximum number of cutting blades adapted to travel continuously at substanti. ly a uniform speed across apertures in the comb thereby assuring uniform cutting characteristics across the shaving suface of the shaver head.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electric shaver of the foregoing character which has a unique drive mechanism for moving the cutting blades continuously in an endless path across the inner surface of the comb of the shaver head.

)Lher objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the head of an electric shaver embodying the present invention, with portions of the head removed to illustrate internal parts of the shaver and with other parts shown in section;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details or" construction and arrangeice meat of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in variousways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention will be described in greater detail. The electric shaver 16) has a housing 12 in the lower portion of which is enclosed an electric motor (not shown) which is adapted to turn the shaft 14. The upper end of the housing 12 is closed by the head member 16 which is hingedly connected to the housing 12 by suitable hinge means, shown at 18, and a spring clip (not shown).

The shaft 14 has a drive gear 29 on its upper end and which is in mesh with the gears 22 and 24, and all three of such gears are enclosed in the gear housing 26 supported by screws 28 from the inner wall 39 of the housing 12. Bearing means 32 are positioned in the walls of the gear housing 26 in which the shaft 14 and the shafts 34 and 36 are journaled. The shafts 34 and 36 are similarly arranged, and therefore, only the internal construction and arrangement of the shaft 34 will be descibed.

As seen in FZGURE 2, the shaft 3-; extends upwardly from the gear housing 2.6 and slidingly fits into the sleeve 38. A second shaft 46 is fitted into the sleeve 38 and is held therein against turning. Preferably the shaft 40 is press-fitted into the sleeve 38. The axially aligned shafts 34 and as have axially aligned holes 42 and 44 therein in which is retained in compression a coil spring 45 so as to urge the shaft 40 in an upward direction. The shafts 34 and ill are held against relative rotation by means of a tongue 46 on the end of the shaft 46 which fits into a transverse groove 43 in the shaft 34. Thus, it can be seen that when the shaft 14 is turned by the electric motor (not shown), the gear 29 will be turned which will result in gear 22, shaft 34, and shaft 4% turning therewith. Similarly, when shaft 14 is turned, gear 24, shaft 36, and shaft 5% will be turned. Thus, shafts 4t and 5!) will turn at the same speed and in the same direction by virtue of the drive arrangement described.

The arrangement for driving the cutting elements of the electric shaver ill by means of the two shafts 4t and 50 will be next described. Referring again to FIGURE 2, a tongue 52 can be seen on the end of the shaft 49, which tongue extends into a transverse groove 54 in the drive member 56. The latter is press-fitted into the bearing member 58 which in turn is press-fitted into the hexagonal drive member 6d. Thus, when the shaft 40 is rotated, the drive member es, the bearing member 58 and the hexagonal drive member 66 are rotated therewith. The fit between the tongue 52 and the groove 54 in the drive member 56 is a loose fit so that when the head member 16 is opened by pivoting about the hinge structure it the drive member 56 will readily slide away from the tongue 52. Thebearing member 53 can be any suitable type of bearing which will provide a proper bearing surface against the wall of the opening at 62 in the stationary plate 64.

The shaft 5% is similarly operatively connected to the hexagonal drive member 66 by means of the tongue 68, groove 79, drive member 72 and bearing 74. From the foregoing description, it can be readily understood that the hexagonal drive members 6% and 66 are adapted to be turned together at synchronized speeds.

The plate 64 forms the bottom wall of the head member 16 and connected thereto by a plurality of screws 76 is the comb or comb member 78. The upper surface of the comb member 73 has a plurality of thin slits 79 formed therein which are adapted to receive the hair that is to be cut when using the electric shaver. These slits characterqand covers the entire shaving portion of the electric .shaver. Press-fitted or suitably secured against turning withrespect to the comb member 78 are bearing members 81 which slidably fit into the upper ends of the hexagonal drive members 60 and 66 and aid in maintaining themembersofl 3116. 66 in proper-alignment.

Positioned between the plate 64 and the comb member 78 is.a chain-like endless cutter assembly Sit which is adapted to be driven by the hexagonal drive members 66 and 66 The endlesscutter assembly is made up of a plurality of cutter elements 82 which are joined byv links 84. Each of the cutter elements-82 is a block-like member having a'slot 86 extending longitudinally through the inner side thereof and having a plurality of cutting blades 88' projecting upwardly from its upper surface. Fitting into the slots 86 are links 90 whichare pivotally connected at their opposite ends to one anotherand to the cutter elements 82 by a plurality of pins 92. The

4 at an angle to the alignment of the thin slits 79 so as to, provide a most elfective cutting action. It can also be seen that shaving surfaces of other'desired configurations can be obtained by varying the dimensions and locations of the hexagonal drive members 60 and 66. Preferably, V

the arrangement shown in the drawingsjwill be employed so that a relatively wide shaving surface in which uniform cutting action is obtained will be realized. 7

When it is desired to raise the head member 16 for cleaning or repair purposes, this is accomplished merely by pivoting the head member 16 about the hinge means.

18; after release of the detent spring clip (not shown). If

, it becomes necessary to remove the comb member 78, this can be accomplished by unscrewing the screws 76.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. in an electric shaver, a comb having outer and inner surfaces and a plurality of apertures arranged in a generally oval path for receiving through the outer surface links 90 each have a single tongue 94 on one end and a p 1 pair .of spaced tongues 96 on the other end adapted for making this chain-like connection between the adjacent cutter. elements 82. From the foregoing description, it is believed clear that the cutter elements 82 are joined together to; form a chain-like endless cutter assembly which is adapted to travel in the same endless oval path as defined by the slits 79 and with the cutting blades 88 traveling against the inner surface of the comb member 78 in the region of the slits 79.

As can be seen in FIGURE 1, the cutter elements 82 are approximately of the same width as each of the circumferential faces of the hexagonal drive members 60 and .66 so that the cutter elements .82 will, in effect, he held in mesh with the hexagonal drive members 60 and when the latter are rotated about their axes. Each of the cutter elements- 82 fits against one of the surfaces of the hexagonal drive members 69 and 66 and travels around the axes of the drive members 60 and 66 for one half revolution, after which the cutter elements 82 depart tangentially from the axes .of rotation of the drive elements and 66 and travel'in a straight line toward the other of the drive elements 60 and 66. For the purpose of guiding and maintaining the vvchain assembly in proper alignment between the drive elements 60 and, a block9$ is provided which is suitably secured in a stationary position to a plate 64 by any suitable means such as the screw Y100 and the pins 102. Also, in order to maintain the cutting blades 88 in constant sliding engagement with the .inner surface of the comb member 78, a track or-be'aring plate 194 is provided which has essentially the same configuration .as the path of travel of the-cutter assembly I30, and a spring element 106 is provided for constantly urging the bearing plate 104 upwardly against the cutter assembly ,80, and thereby urging the cutting blades 83 against thejunderside of the comb member 78. I

'In ope-ration, itcanbe understood from the. foregoing 7 description that the electric motor .(not shown) that is connected to the shaft 14 serves to drive the chain-like endless cutter assembly 80 continuously in one direction and the cutting blades 88 are constantly urged against the underside of the combmernber 7.8. It is believed readily apparent that the cutting blades 88 will travel past the slits 79 at substantially the same velocity throughout their entire path of travel. The thin slits 79 are perpendicular to the path of travel of .the cutter elements 82, and froman observation of FIGURE 1, it can be seen that the cutting blades 88 are uniformly inclined of the comb the hair to be cut, a plurality of cutter ele merits operatively linked together to provide a chain-like endless cutter element assembly for continuous travel in said oval path with said cutter elements in engagement with the lower surface of the comb, a bearing surface in engagement with said cutter element assembly on the opposite surface from that which is in engagement with said comb, spring means mounted to urge said bearing.

surface against said cutter element assembly and said cutter-element assembly against said comb, and drive means'including rotary elements centered within opposite ends of said oval path and operatively connected to said cutter element assemblyjfor. driving the same continuously in one direction in said oval path.

2. In an electric shaver, a comb having'outer-and mner surfaces and a plurality of apertures arranged in a gen-,

erally oval path for receiving through the outer surface of the comb the hair to be cut, aplurality of cutter ele-. ments operatively linked together to provide a generally oval-shaped chain-like endless cutter element assembly,

for continuous travel in one direction in said oval path with said cutter elements in engagement with the lower surface of said comb, said cutter elements each having a side surface facing inwardly with respect to the ovalshaped assembly, and drive means including rotary elements centered within opposite ends of the oval-shaped assembly and having a plurality of surfacescircumferenw tially arranged for engagement with corresponding'im wardly facing ones of saidv cutter elements for driving 7 said oval-shaped assembly continuously in one direction in the oval path.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS EHLLIAM FELDMAN, r mary m e- 

1. IN AN ELECTRIC SHAVER, A COMB HAVING OUTER AND INNER SURFACES AND A PLURALITY OF APERTURES ARRANGED IN A GENERALLY OVAL PATH FOR RECEIVING THROUGH THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE COMB THE HAIR TO BE CUT, A PLURALITY OF CUTTER ELEMENTS OPERATIVELY LINKED TOGETHER TO PROVIDE A CHAIN-LIKE ENDLESS CUTTER ELEMENT ASSEMBLY FOR CONTINUOUS TRAVEL IN SAID OVAL PATH WITH SAID CUTTER ELEMENTS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE COMB, A BEARING SURFACE IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CUTTER ELEMENT ASSEMBLY ON THE OPPOSITE SURFACE FROM THAT WHICH IS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID COMB, SPRING MEANS MOUNTED TO URGE SAID BEARING SURFACE AGAINST SAID CUTTER ELEMENT ASSEMBLY AND SAID CUTTER ELEMENT ASSEMBLY AGAINST SAID COMB, AND DRIVE MEANS INCLUDING ROTARY ELEMENTS CENTERED WITHIN OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID OVAL PATH AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID CUTTER ELEMENT ASSEMBLY FOR DRIVING THE SAME CONTINUOUSLY IN ONE DIRECTION IN SAID OVAL PATH. 